Date: October 16, 2013
University Dormitory
On October 16, 2013 University Dormitory hosted the representatives of the Dialogue Eurasia Platform – International nongovernmental organization.
The Platform was organized by the Eurasian journalists and writers from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine on September 15, established in 1998 in Istanbul. The main purpose of the Platform is to develop the dialogue among the Eurasian nations " just as among real people, dialogue among groups, societies and cultures is one of the most important methods for understanding and knowing one another, for seeing differences, similarities, and dreams for the future, and for making a new world where human values exist more effectively". One of the priorities is the implementation of social and cultural projects.
The meeting between the representatives from the Dialogue Eurasia Platform and our University students was dedicated to the celebrations of Kurban Bayram or the Festival of Sacrifice. It is the most important religious festival of the year and a four day holiday in Turkey. According to Islamic rules, every Muslim who is wealthy enough must sacrifice a farm animal for the God. The meat from the animal is then to be shared in the following way - one third is saved for the household, one third is shared between friends and neighbors and the final third is given to the poor.
The event was started with the greeting words of Taisiia Belofastova, Vice-Rector on Social and Humanitarian Affairs. After that, Oksana Burak, the teacher of the Turkish language from our University, the member of the Platform told about the historical background and traditions of celebrating Kurban Bayram in the Muslim world. Katheryna Nikolayenko, the fourth year student majored in "Spanish and Turkish Philology", the prizewinner of the Ukrainian Olympiad on Turkish Language (third place) presented her social video project about the spiritual basis of this holiday.
Gökhan Demir, the head of Ukrainian office of the Dialogue Eurasia Platform, said a lot of warm words to our students. From our side, Taisiia Belofastova, Vice-Rector on Social and Humanitarian Affairs, presented him an original Ukrainian ethnic souvenir.